Before You Make Any Changes

Before You Start

Making changes to what you eat and how active you are isn’t always easy. But you don’t have to make loads of changes. Start by making just one or two small changes. It’s important to set these up as new habits before you move on.

Do I really want to change?

Only you can decide this. Try listing the reasons you want to make changes. Are there also reasons for not making changes? Which is the longer list? If you have more reasons for not making changes then this might not be a good time to start. You can always check out how you feel again in a few months time.

Before you start to make any changes, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I know what I want to change and why?

Make sure you have clear goals. By knowing what it is you want to change you stand a better chance of success. For example you might want to:

Eat more fruit and vegetables.

Start eating a healthy breakfast.

Eat more regularly.

Plan more activity into your day.

Take up a new sport.

Snack on chocolate, crisps and biscuits less often.

Then ask youself why you want to make these changes, for example you might want to change in order to:

Look and feel better.

Have more energy.

Look better in the clothes you buy.

Have healthier skin.

Have a healthier shape.

How am I going to change, who can help me?

Once you have decided what you want to change and why, you then need to decide how you are going to achieve the goals you've set. For example:

Try planning changes into your day over the next month.

Choose a date to start.

Work out how you might remind yourself.

Who do you need to talk to for help – parent, guardian, teacher, health worker, friend, neighbour, relative, youth worker, mentor.

Plan to reward yourself when you succeed e.g. new clothes, trip to cinema, new magazine, CD or DVD.